MTV Week of Respect

CHARACTER PILLARS AND ATTRIBUTES

Students in grades K-5 are involved in weekly character education lessons. The character education lessons are based on the “Character Counts” Six Pillars of Character. The Six Pillars of Character focus on the themes of trustworthiness, respect, responsibility, fairness, caring, and citizenship. It is our hope that the Six Pillars of Character language, traits, and values will become a natural part of the school’s culture and climate and will be interwoven throughout every classroom and every aspect of the learning experience in Hanover Township.

Character Pillars and Attributes

Trustworthiness:February

Be honest • Don’t deceive, cheat, or steal • Be reliable — do what you say you’ll do • Have the courage to do the right thing • Build a good reputation • Be loyal — stand by your family, friends, and country

Respect:October & November

Treat others with respect; follow the Golden Rule • Be tolerant and accepting of differences • Use good manners, not bad language • Be considerate of the feelings of others • Don’t threaten, hit or hurt anyone • Deal peacefully with anger, insults, and disagreements

Responsibility:March

Do what you are supposed to do • Plan ahead • Persevere: keep on trying! • Always do your best Use self-control • Be self-disciplined • Think before you act — consider the consequences • Be accountable for your words, actions, and attitudes • Set a good example for others

Fairness:May

Play by the rules • Take turns and share • Be open-minded; listen to others • Don’t take advantage of others • Don’t blame others carelessly • Treat all people fairly

Caring:December & January

Be kind • Be compassionate and show you care • Express gratitude • Forgive others • Help people in need

Citizenship:April

Do your share to make your school and community better • Cooperate • Get involved in community affairs • Stay informed; vote • Be a good neighbor • Obey laws and rules • Respect authority • Protect the environment • Volunteer

T R R F C C
Students can use this acronym to help them remember that people with good character are terrific:

T rustworthinessR espectR esponsibilityF airnessC aringC itizenship

COLOR SCHEME

Trustworthiness : blue
Think "true blue"Respect : yellow/gold
Think the Golden RuleResponsibility : green
Think being responsible for a garden or finances; or as in being solid and reliable like an oakFairness : orange
Think of dividing an orange into equal sections to share fairly with friendsCaring : red
Think of a heartCitizenship : purple
Think regal purple as representing the state

Character CountsThis link provides information about the Six Pillars of Character which forms the basis for our weekly character education lessons for our elementary level students.

Bucket FillersThis link provides information and resources behind the bucket filling concept. This book and related activities are shared with all Hanover Township elementary students as part of the character education lessons.

Bullying InformationThis website gives helpful information on bullying including cyberbullying. Learn about the warning signs if a child is being bullied or if a child is bullying others, how to talk to children about bullying, and prevention ideas.

Eating DisordersInformation on eating disorders including the definition, symptoms, and prevention.

Grief/Loss InformationThis website provides lots of information, resources, and support for coping during loss and difficult times. Topics include helping children cope with death, divorce, bullying, self-injury, and eating disorders. It also lists books for children and adults as well as bereavement support groups in New Jersey.

Kids HealthThis is an excellent website for parents, educators, teens, and kids focusing on children’s health and development. It includes vast information on school, family life, emotions, and behaviors.

Parenting InformationThis website focuses on a positive parenting approach and includes information to help children succeed. Here you will find downloadable resources, like tip sheets, discussion guides, activities, and fact sheets.

Self-InjuryInformation on self-injury including the definition, symptoms, and prevention.

Tips for ParentsThis website provides articles for parents, giving practical advice on how to give children the best possible start in life. Topics covered include character building, health awareness, study habits and a series of how to guides for a variety of leisure activities.